ITV and Liverpool’s Lime Pictures have reached an eleventh-hour settlement with three parties that claimed The Only Way is Essex infringed their copyright.
The case was due to go to be heard at the High Court today, but all parties have instead reportedly reached a settlement for an undisclosed figure.
Brian Belo, Sassy Films and Massive TV took legal action against ITV and Lime Pictures in March last year, claiming that ITV2’s structured reality show adapted and reproduced part of a format they originally developed.
ITV and Lime previously dismissed the claims of authorship and breach of confidence, describing them as “embarrassing for lack of particularity”.
Today in a joint statement they said:
“The claim brought by Mr Belo, Sassy Films Limited and Bob Massie against Lime Pictures and ITV in relation to The Only Way is Essex has been resolved. The terms of the settlement are confidential.”
Prolific North has requested further information from Lime this evening awaits a response.
